The WNBA returned in a barrage of headlines, historical past and excessive class leisure.
After Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese headlined Indiana Fever’s 93-58 rout of the Chicago Sky, some WNBA historical past that was made on the night time went beneath the radar.
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Throughout her group’s loss, Reese grew to become the quickest participant in WNBA historical past to achieve at the least 450 factors and 450 rebounds, doing so in 35 video games.
The document beforehand belonged to Tina Charles, who reached the identical feat in 40 video games again in 2011.
Reese now has 474 factors and 463 rebounds to her identify.
The 23-year-old appeared delighted with the achievement, taking to social media to repost the information with the praying emoji on Monday.
And it is no shock Reese has amassed such a excessive amount of factors and rebounds, because the Sky ahead is the perfect within the league at recording double-doubles.
Final season, she notched 15 consecutive double-doubles throughout her rookie season final 12 months.
That itself was a WNBA document, with Candace Parker beforehand having 12 in a row.
On Saturday’s season opener, Reese impressed once more, logging 12 factors and 17 rebounds.
Nevertheless, the sport was overshadowed by Clark’s flagrant foul on Reese, because the Fever guard slapped the Chicago star’s hand when going for a layup.
Whereas Clark has been vocal in saying that it was only a basketball play, Reese has saved comparatively quiet since Saturday.
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“Let’s not make it one thing that it is not,” Clark stated.
“It was only a good play on the basketball. I am unsure what the ref noticed to improve it, and that is as much as their discretion. It is a take foul to place them on the free throw line.
“I’ve watched a whole lot of basketball in my life, that is precisely what it was. I wasn’t attempting to do something malicious. That is not the kind of participant I’m.”
After the sport, it was introduced that the WNBA was investigating allegations of racism and hateful fan feedback in direction of Reese.
One thing Clark and the Indiana Fever have backed.
“There is no place for that in our recreation, there is not any place for that in society,” Clark added.
“Actually, we wish each one that comes into our area — whether or not participant or fan — to have an excellent expertise. I admire the league doing that [investigation]. I admire that the Fever group has been on the forefront of that.”
DeWanna Bonner, who’s in her sixteenth season within the WNBA, stated the franchise mentioned the state of affairs and that everybody is on the identical web page.
“We maintain uplifting one another and talking out on these items when that’s wanted,” Bonner stated.
“That is not what we as gamers stand for, not what the Indiana Fever group stands for. It is zero tolerance.”
Reese will return to WNBA motion on Thursday when she takes on defending champions the New York Liberty.
Clark for her half is again on the hardwood on Tuesday night time in opposition to the Atalanta Dream – and was delighted her efficiency attracted excessive reward.
The primary total choose from the 2024 WNBA Draft has 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 10 assists to go along with two steals and 4 blocks within the win over Sky.
Earlier than the sport LeBron James had taken to social media, posting an image of himself alongside Clark, and saying: “Good luck and DO YOU per common this season!!! @caitlinclark” .
Clark was requested about it after Monday’s shootaround
“That is one among my idols, LeBron is the GOAT to me,” she stated.
“He actually does comply with the WNBA. He watches and he loves and appreciates basketball and he loves and appreciates the best way the Fever and my teammates play. I did not see it earlier than the sport, however lots of people despatched it to me.”